Continuous web defining separable envelopes



April 3, 1962 w. A. WILLIS CONTINUOUS WEB DEFINING SEPARABLE ENVELOPES ATTORNEYS.

Filed Feb. 13, 1961 United States Patent 3,028,069 CONTINUOUS WEB DEFINING SEPARABLE ENVELOPES Walter A. Willis, 707 Hinman Ave., Evanston, Ill. Filed Feb. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 89,014 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-69) This invention relates to a continuous envelope and more particularly relates to a continuous envelope formed from a single continuous web.

In the use of modern business machines, it is desirable to provide a continuous web that carries envelopes that are to be addressed or otherwise acted upon by the business machine. Heretofore, three systems have been used but each has deficiencies. In one system, a continuous web carries thereon preformed envelopes which are adhered, by means of a perforated extension of the envelope flap, to the web. This system is expensive. In a second system, a double web is provided and said web is sealed along three edges to define the envelope pocket. Obviously the latter system additionally requires cutting to define the envelope flap, and the outer edges of the envelope are dimensioned substantially larger than the effective space of the envelope pocket, thereby causing the envelopes to be larger than normal. When the sealing is by way of heat seal, the progress of the webs must be at reduced speed to permit proper sealing. In a third known system a single web may be addressed and is then die cut to form envelope blanks that are later folded and sealed to define the envelopes. The latter is expensive and interposes an undesirable operation between the addressing and filling of the envelope.

It is the object of this invention to provide a continuous envelope construction that avoids the aforestated difficulties and wherein a single continuous web is used both as a carrier and itself defines the envelopes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a continuous envelope construction from a single web of material, which envelope is in formed shape even as the web moves through an automatic business machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a continuous envelope construction from a single web wherein the full width and length of the final envelope may be used to capacity and wherein the formed envelopes will be of normal, or standard, size in length and width.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a continuous envelope construction that is characterized by simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction and production, and by desirability in business machine operations.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a continuous web that has been transversely folded incident to the preparation of continuous envelopes in accord with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a continuous web that has been both transversely folded and longitudinally folded to define the continuous envelope of this invention, and at the right-hand end of FIGURE 2 one of the envelopes is illustrated separated from the web of continuous envelopes;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an illustrative cross-section view of the web taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section view of the envelope taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the envelope formed as disclosed herein, and with portions of the envelope separated to show details of construction.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a continuous web, generally indicated at W, wherein, for purpose of orientation, the leading end of the Web is considered to be at the right and the trailing end of the web is considered to be at the left. The web W is repeatedly folded transversely, by initial operations, so as to provide and define alternate major web-segments 10 and minor web-segments 12, respectively of greater and lesser longitudinal web length. The leading end of each major web-segment 10 connects to a minor websegment 12 at a transverse told 14, and the trailing end of each major web-segment 10 connects to a minor Websegment 12 at a fold 16.

Now, each major web-segment 10, which extends between one transverse fold 16 and the previous transverse fold 14, has, in effect, three portions which, considered from left to right, or from trailing end to leading end, as viewed in FIGURE 3, first provides an overlap portion 18 that overlaps a trailing envelope, then a connecting portion 20, and finally a leading portion 22. The length of the major web-segment 10 is greater than the aggregate length of the two minor segments 12 that the Websegment 10 is disposed between, so that the overlap portion 18 of web-segment 10 is that portion that completely overlies the minor web-segment 12 in the left-hand envelope of FIGURE 3, and the leading portion 22 of websegment 10 is that portion of web-segment 10 that is partly overlain by the minor web-segment 12 in the right-hand envelope shown in FIGURE 3.. It will be observed that each minor web-segment 12 is operatively associated with the major web-segment 10 that follows it and overlies only a portion of the following, or trailing, web-segment 10 while simultaneously being completely'overlain by the leading major web-segment 10. The connecting portion 20, between the two successive envelopes shown, may serve as the envelope flap for the second envelope.

There is provided a pocket P between the portion 22 of major web-segment 10 and the associated minor websegment 12. Preferably, a strip of glue, or other adhesive, as shown at 26, is applied between the web-segment portion 18 and the minor web-segment 12 adjacent the leading edge of the envelope adjacent the fold 14.

The connecting portion 20 of the major web-segment 10 is provided with a transverse segmented line of separating perforations 26 very closely adjacent the fold 14, thereby providing means for segmenting the web W to define discrete envelopes after the envelopes have been completed. Adjacent the line of separating perforations 26, and in the direction toward pocket P, there preferably is provided a layer of adhesive, or glue, as indicated at 28, for the purpose of providing for sealing of the envelope flap 20 to the envelope.

After the web W has been transversely folded and provided with transverse separating perforations 26, as disclosed, the longitudinal edges of the web are longitudinally folded, as shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, for the purpose of closing and defining the lateral edges of the envelope. Thus, and as best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, each of the longitudinal edges of the web are folded first inwardly along a fold line 30, to provide a lapped-over segment that overlaps an inner portion of the web W, and then folded reversely along a fold line 32 to overlap the inward fold. These spaced fold lines 30 and 32 thus provide a first longitudinal segment 34 which overlies an inner portion of the web, and a second longitudinal segment 36 that overlies the first longitudinal segment 34. A longitudinally segmented line of adhesive, such as spots of glue, may be provided at 38 to adhesively secure the segment 34 to the Web W, and a second line of adhesive, preferably substantially continuous, is provided at 40 between the longitudinal segments 34 and 36 to hold those segments in adhering relation to each other.

In forming the lapped-over, longitudinal edges of the envelope, each uppermost longitudinal segment 36 may preferably be of 'a width greater than the width of segment 34, so that the strips 36 extend laterally outwardly of the edges of the envelopes to provide longitudinal web control segments 42 that protrude laterally outwardly of the edges of the envelopes. These control Segments 42 may also be provided with uniformly spaced control notches, or apertures, 44 therethrough, for the purpose of cooperation with elements that are provided by existing business machines, and so as to adapt the continuous envelope device for use with such business machines. A segmented line of separating perforations 46 is provided in' longitudinal segment 36 substantially along the edge of the envelope, so as to permit of separating of the control strip 42 from the remainder of the envelopes after the envelopes have been processed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a continuous envelope device that is defined by a single continuous web that is first transversely folded and then longitudinally folded, and with various lines of perforations and lines of adhesive applied thereto so as, to produce envelopes that are formed from the continuous web, and which envelopes carry thereon peripheral control strips for cooperation with existing business machines. After the envelopes have been addressed or otherwise processed by the business machine, the control strips 42 may be segmented from the web along the tear lines 456, and then the web can be segmented across the transverse tear lines 26 to form discrete envelopes. This provides envelopes wherein the interior capacity of the envelope pocket is commensurate with the full length, and width of the envelope, as exists with standard envelopes, and wherein there is little Waste of paper from the web that has been thus processed.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire tov secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A continuous envelope device comprising, in combination: an elongated web, having longitudinal marginal edges, said web being repeatedly folded transversely to define alternate major and minor web-segments respectively of greater and lesser web length, each minor websegment being located between a pair of major web-segments and being operatively associated with one major webrsegngent and disposed to overlap a portion only of its said associated major web-segment to partly define an envelope pocket therebetween, each minor web-segmer t being completely overlapped by the other of said pair of major web-segments, and the longitudinal edge portions of said transversely folded web each being folded to overlap an inner portion of the web and being secured thereto to define lateral edges for each envelope.

2 A continuous envelope device comprising, in combination: an elongated web having longitudinal marginal edges, said web being repeatedly folded transversely to define alternate major and minor web-segments respectively of; greater and. lesser web length, each minor websegment being located between a pair of major web-segments and being operatively associated with one major web segrnent and disposed. to overlap a portion only of its said associated major web-segment to partly define an envelope pocket therebetween, each minor web-se gment being completely overlapped by the other of said pair of major web-segments, and the longitudinal edge portions of said transversely folded web each being folded first inwardly, to overlap an inner portion of the web and to define lateral edges for each envelope, and then outwardly to overlap said inward fold and to provide long1 tudinal web control segments that extend laterally outwardly of the lateral edges of the envelopes.

3. A continuous envelope device comprising, in combination: an elongated web having longitudinal marginal edges, said web being repeatedly folded transversely to define alternate major and minor web-segments respectively of greater and lesser web length, each minor websegment being located between a pair of major webs gments and being operatively associated with one major web-segment and disposed to overlap a portion only of its said associated major web-segment to partly define an envelope pocket therebetween, each minor web-segment being completely overlapped by the other of said pair of major web-segments, the longitudinal edge portions of said transversely folded web each being folded first inwardly, to overlap an inner portion of the web and to define lateral edges for each envelope, and then outwardly to overlap said inward fold, the said inward fold of the edge portions of the web being segmentally secured to inner portions of the Web, and said outward fold being secured along a substantially continuous seam to said inward fold.

4. A continuous envelope device comprising, in combination: an elongated web having longitudinal marginal edges, said web being repeatedly folded transversely to define alternate major and minor web-segments respectively of greater and lesser web length, each minor websegment being located between a pair of major websegments and being operatively associated with one major web-segment and disposed to overlap a portion only of its said associated major web-segment to partly define an envelope pocket therebetween, each minor web-segment being completely overlapped by the other of said pair of major web-segments, the longitudinal edge portions of said transversely folded web each being folded first inwardly, to. overlap an inner portion of the Web and to define lateral edges for each envelope, and then outwardly to overlap said inward fold and to provide longitudinal web control segments that extend laterally outwardly of the lateral edges of the envelopes, and said longitudinal web control segments being apertured to adapt the continuous envelope device for use with existing business machines.

5. A continuous envelope device comprising, in combination: an elongated web having longitudinal marginal edges, said web being repeatedly folded transversely to define alternate major and minor web-segments respectively of greater and lesser web length, each minor websegment being located between a pair of major websegments and being operatively associated with one major web-segment and disposed to overlap a portion only of its said associated major web-segment to partly define an envelope pocket therebetween, each minor web-segment being completely overlapped by the other of said pair of major. web-segments, the longitudinal edge portions of said transversely folded web each being folded first inwardly, to overlap an inner portion of the web and to define lateral edges for each envelope, andthen outwardly to overlap said inward fold and to provide longitudinal web control segments that extend laterally outwardly of the lateral; edges of the envelopes, and a longitudinal line of separating perforations between each longitudinal web control segment and the envelopes.

6. A continuous. envelope device comprising, in combination: an elongated web having longitudinal marginal edges, said web, being repeatedly folded, transversely to define alternate major and minor web-segments respec: tively of greater and lesser web length, each minor websegment being located between a pair of major websegments and being operatively associated with one major web-segment and disposed to overlap a portion only of its said associated major web -segment to partly define an envelope pocket therebetween, each minor web-segrnent being completely overlapped by the other of said pair of major web-segments, the longitudinal edge portions of said transversely folded Web each being folded to overlap an inner portion of the web and being secured thereto to define lateral edges for each envelope, and a line or perforations extending transversely across each major web-segment to afford segmenting of the web into discrete envelopes.

7. A continuous envelope device comprising, in combination: an elongated web having longitudinal marginal edges, said web being transversely folded to define alternate major and minor web-segments respectively of greater and lesser web length, each minor web-segment being connected by lines of fold to two major websegments, one of which is operatively associated with the minor web-segment to define an envelope and the other of which connects to and in part defines an adjacent envelope, each minor web-segment being disposed to overlap a portion only of said one major web-segment, and to be completely overlapped by the other major websegment, an overlapping portion of each major websegment, of a length no greater than the length of the minor web-segment in the adjacent envelope, being secured to said minor web'segment of the adjacent envelope, a line of perforation extending transversely across each major web-segment and spaced between the securement of said overlapping portion of major web-segment and the closest transverse edge of the minor web-segment associated with the said major web-segment, thereby affording segmenting of the web into discrete envelopes and also defining a flap part for the envelope.

8. A continuous envelope device comprising, in combination: an elongated web having longitudinal marginal edges, said web being transversely folded to define alternate major and minor web-segments respectively of great er and lesser web length, each minor web-segment being connected by lines of fold to two major web-segments, one of which is operatively associated with the minor web-segment to define an envelope and the other of which connects to and in part defines the following envelope, each minor web-segment being disposed to overlap a portion only of said one major web-segment and to be completely overlapped by the other major web-segment, each major web-segment being connected by lines of fold between two minor web-segments of which one minor web-segment is completely overlain by the said major websegment and the other minor web-segment overlies a portion of said major web-segment, a portion of each major web-segment of a length no greater than the web length of the said one minor web-segment being secured to said one minor web-segment, a line of perforation extending transversely across each major Web-segment and spaced between the said securement of the major web-segment to the one minor web-segment and the closest transverse edge of the other minor web-segment, thereby affording segmenting of the folded web into discrete envelopes and also defining a flap part for the envelope, and a transverse strip of sealing adhesive on said flap part of each envelope.

9. A continuous envelope device comprising, in combination: an elongated web having longitudinal marginal edges, said web being transversely folded to define alternate major and minor web-segments respectively of greater and lesser web length, each minor weg-segment being connected by lines of fold to two major web-segments, one of which is operatively associated with the minor web-segment to define an envelope and the other of which connects to and in part defines the following envelope, each minor Web-segment being disposed to overlap a portion only of said one major web-segment and to be completely overlapped by the other major web-segment, each major web-segment being connected by lines of fold between two minor web-segments of which one minor web-segment is completely overlain by the said major web-segment and the other minor web-segment overlies a portion of said major web-segment, a portion of each major web-segment of a length no greater than the web length of the said one minor web-segment being secured to said one minor websegment, a line of perforation extending transversely across each major web-segment and spaced between the said securement of the major web-segment to the one minor web-segment and the closest transverse edge of the other minor web-segment, thereby afiording segmenting of the folded web into discrete envelopes and also defining a flap part for the envelope, and each major web-segment having a web length greater than the aggregate web length of the two minor web-segments to which each major web-segment connects, thereby providing an intermediate part of each major web-segment which is free from an overlapping relationship with minor web-segments.

No references cited. 

